Vacancy rates for radiation therapists declined slightly in 2014, according to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.

Results from the ASRT Radiation Therapy Workplace and Staffing Survey show that the vacancy rate for radiation therapists fell to 1.6 percent in 2014, down from 2.1 percent in 2012. Vacancy rates for medical dosimetrists moved from 5.1 percent to 3.6 percent during the same period. Vacancy rates represent the percent of positions that are open and actively being recruited.

"This data represents a further tightening of the radiation therapy job market," said ASRT Chief Academic Officer Myke Kudlas M.Ed., R.T.(R)(QM), CIIP. "Although some areas of the country report therapy and dosimetry job openings, some areas demonstrate no openings at all."
The staffing survey also provides information about the average number of full-time radiation therapists and medical dosimetrists working in medical facilities. Results show that the average number of budgeted positions per facility in radiation therapy increased slightly from 7.4 in 2012 to 8.2 in 2014. However, the average number of full-time medical dosimetrists has remained at 2.5 per facility since 2012.

In addition to staffing and vacancy information, ASRT asked respondents about facility and personnel demographics, equipment use and questions related to staff turnover.

The ASRT conducts staffing surveys each year, alternating between medical imaging and radiation therapy practice areas, to monitor workplace and hiring trends in the radiologic sciences.

In February 2014, ASRT e-mailed the survey to 3,524 managers at U.S. radiation therapy facilities. When the survey closed in March 2014, 654 respondents had submitted completed questionnaires.

Contact: Annemarie Ciepiela Henton, 505-298-4500, Ext. 1287, ahenton@asrt.org

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